Professionals from planning, transportation, engineering, health, and allied fields came together for Transportation Bonanza 17, an annual day of training and connection focused on active transportation and Safe Routes to School (SRTS). Organized by Michigan Association of Planning in partnership with Michigan Safe Routes to School, Michigan Department of Transportation, and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the event took place at the East Lansing Marriott and provided a valuable platform for knowledge sharing and networking.
This year, the event had 250+ attendees with a significant number of staff from Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) as well as staff from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), public health professionals, and leaders from communities across the state representing civic, education, and non-profit organizations.
Key themes, discussions, and innovative ideas from the sessions concentrated on people-focused approaches that center users in engagement, design, implementation, and assessment, with examples ranging from quick builds to long-range projects from across Michigan.
Collaboration across Sectors
Three sessions focused on building shared understanding across disciplines that approach work from different perspectives:
- Joining Forces: Combining our Superpowers Diminishes our Kryptonite: Brad Strater, AICP and Sarah Binkowski, PE, PTOE presented “Joining Forces: Combining our Superpowers Diminishes our Kryptonite,” a session exploring how Community Planners and Transportation Engineers can strengthen collaboration despite their differing professional perspectives. Survey results shared by the presenters showed that planners and engineers generally view one another positively, challenging the assumption that there is inherent tension between the two groups.To strengthen collaboration, the session highlighted the value of engineers considering the broader impacts of their technical decisions, while planners make an effort to understand and appreciate engineering standards and constraints. The presenters noted that true collaboration isn’t about working together flawlessly; it’s about bringing different strengths to the table in pursuit of a shared goal: increasing safety.
- Their Roads, Our Places: In this session, Christopher Zull, PE, and Matthew Boelkins presented “Their Roads, Our Places,” highlighting how Michigan townships can play a stronger role in shaping road design—even when county road commissions own and operate the roads. While townships may feel constrained by the division of authority, presenters emphasized that they have more power than they often realize through control over driveway spacing, zoning, parking, and setback regulations. These tools empower townships to influence the character and function of their roads. The session emphasized the importance of developing plans that clearly articulate a vision for future land use and outline how the transportation network should grow alongside it. By doing so, townships can speak the language of county road commissions and present thoughtful, data-informed proposals. This approach allows county road commissions to focus their limited time and resources on implementation rather than early-stage conceptual planning.
- Bringing Health and Transportation Together Through Michigan Walkability Action Institute: Karma Edwards, MSPH and Ashley Branshaw, MPH presented on the pilot project between MDOT and MDHHS to assist local communities to develop active transportation plans that address their challenges in connectivity and chronic disease management and prevention. In the project, local teams of stakeholders receive education and technical assistance to identify community needs, build the capacity of people and organizations to engage in community planning, and increase their ability to leverage grants to help fund infrastructure projects that will improve people’s health outcomes.
Data-Driven Strategy and Asset Management
While planning for a safer future requires bold vision, it also requires a firm grasp of the ground beneath our feet. These sessions explored how Michigan communities are using rigorous data—from surface-level pavement defects to multi-year crash trends—to ensure that every investment in our active transportation networks is both strategic and sustainable.
- Measuring What Matters- MDOT’s SCAN Manual: It’s often said that what doesn’t get measured doesn’t get managed. While asset management is a staple for our roadway networks, our shared-use paths—the vital arteries of active transportation—frequently lack the same level of rigorous oversight. Kole Nicholoff introduced the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Surface Condition of Active Networks (SCAN) Manual, a tool designed to bridge that gap. The presentation highlighted a fundamental truth: maintaining connectivity for walkers and rollers starts with knowing the actual condition of the assets they use. By identifying specific surface defects in asphalt paths, the SCAN approach allows agencies to move beyond reactive repairs and toward proactive maintenance. Attendees explored the challenges that led to SCAN’s creation and discussed how data-driven condition assessments can improve safety, increase use, and ensure that limited resources are allocated where they’re needed most. As we look to build more resilient networks, SCAN provides a blueprint for treating our paths with the same priority as our pavement.
- Targeted, Tactical, and Community-Centered: The Kalamazoo Model: In Kalamazoo, safety isn’t just a goal; it’s a measurable outcome of an integrated, data-driven approach. This interactive session showcased how the city combines intersection, lighting, and transit studies with deep community engagement to fuel its Safety Action Plan. Participants got hands-on, working in breakout groups to analyze crash data, demographic information, and community profiles for various local contexts. By identifying key stakeholders and specific next steps, attendees practiced the very strategies that have helped Kalamazoo successfully decrease its crash rates every year for the last five years. The session served as a powerful reminder that when we align technical data with community voices, we create plans that don’t just sit on a shelf—they save lives.
Conclusion
Transportation Bonanza 17 provided a valuable forum for exploring the complex challenges and opportunities in transportation. The conference underscored the need for data-driven decision-making, innovative approaches to safety and transit, and collaborative partnerships to create a safer transportation future.
Stay tuned for the dates for Transportation Bonanza 18, as we look forward to seeing everyone to expand our collective learning and engage in impromptu discussion next year.